| About Ke Kai
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Our first practice and racing canoe was loaned to us by Roy Decoito of Hui Wa’a Outrigger Canoe Club. During our first year as a club, Aunty Arma, then editor of the Cal Hawaiian News, donated an unfinished outrigger “plug” to our club that was built into our first canoe. The donation came with one stipulation; that should another club need help to get started, Ke Kai O’Uhane would reciprocate by helping them, as well.
We had that opportunity when Akau Hana of Santa Cruz started their club. That first Malia was sold to Akau Hana for the cost of building materials, and later, when the founders of Akau Hana left, they sold Ke Kai O’Uhane, the canoe, back to us. Please contact our founders if you wish. Mahalo. |
In the early 1980's, Hui ‘O Kalani OCC encouraged the founders to start a club in Monterey. To that goal, O’Kalani Outrigger Canoe Club had us stage the first regatta to be held in Monterey in the summer of 1984. With help from Junior Wright and his club members, the community saw the potential for a cultural activity that would encompass all of Monterey County.
Our founders, and Julian & Shirley Avilla, Les Charles, and Hal Davenport were fortunate to have the guidance and wisdom of the late Aunty Arma Fonseca and paddling knowledge of Eddie Fonseca, founder of Ke Anuenue Outrigger Canoe Club, to keep us focused on our main goals, and to appreciate the contribution of the Northern California Outrigger Canoe Association (NCOCA).
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